The ''Old Town'' has retained much of it's old charm. Here you will find low adobe houses with shady courtyards, narrow winding streets and many ancient mosques and madressas.

+

The ''Old Town'' has retained much of its old charm. Here you will find low adobe houses with shady courtyards, narrow winding streets and many ancient mosques and madressas.

*<see name="Chorsu Bazaar" alt="Tashkent's farmers market under a huge cupola, spices, grain, dairy products, fruits of the season " address="" directions="Southern edge of the old town" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">Here you can encounter the hustle and bustle of everyday life in Central Asia and you will have a good chance to see people in the colourful local dress. </see>

*<see name="Chorsu Bazaar" alt="Tashkent's farmers market under a huge cupola, spices, grain, dairy products, fruits of the season " address="" directions="Southern edge of the old town" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="">Here you can encounter the hustle and bustle of everyday life in Central Asia and you will have a good chance to see people in the colourful local dress. </see>

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*<see name="Tellya Sheikh Mosque" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="" url="" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">with a beautiful Islamic library with ancient ceilings and ancient manuscripts and the ''Osman Koran''. It is considered the oldest Koran in the world and is said to have been stained with the blood of Hazrat Osman in 655.</see>

*<see name="Tellya Sheikh Mosque" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="" url="" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">with a beautiful Islamic library with ancient ceilings and ancient manuscripts and the ''Osman Koran''. It is considered the oldest Koran in the world and is said to have been stained with the blood of Hazrat Osman in 655.</see>

*<see name="Tashkent Galley of Modern Art" alt="" address="" directions="Not far from Amir Temur square and Westminster University" phone="" url="" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">It is a nice modern gallery. Now (2008 June) there are some UN posters, some pictures and very nice exhibition of young artists. For students the admission is 500 som. </see>

+

*<see name="Tashkent Galley of Modern Art" alt="" address="" directions="Not far from Amir Temur square and Westminster University" phone="" url="" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">It is a nice modern gallery. Now (2008 June) there are some UN posters, some pictures and very nice exhibition of young artists. For students the admission is 500 som.

+

+

Does not appear on any tourist maps or guides. No Address given. Not found on any internet searches; possibly confused with Art Gallery of Uzbekistan. Likely does not exist.</see>

===Theatres===

===Theatres===

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Under the small domes are the ''workshops''. Here the craftsmen make and sell jewelry, painted cradles (beshik); gold embroidery; Uzbek chests with metal decorations; embroidered suzanes (thin tapestries) and jiyak (lace for trimming the lower edges of women's trousers); quilted men's (chapan) and women's (yashmak) caftans; kurpacha quilts and pichok knives in leather or brass sheaths and national musical instruments. Potters offer lyagan dishes and kosa bowls with blue and turquoise painted patterns. You will also find carpets from Khiva, Samarkand, Bukhara, Afghanistan and Turkey.</do>

Under the small domes are the ''workshops''. Here the craftsmen make and sell jewelry, painted cradles (beshik); gold embroidery; Uzbek chests with metal decorations; embroidered suzanes (thin tapestries) and jiyak (lace for trimming the lower edges of women's trousers); quilted men's (chapan) and women's (yashmak) caftans; kurpacha quilts and pichok knives in leather or brass sheaths and national musical instruments. Potters offer lyagan dishes and kosa bowls with blue and turquoise painted patterns. You will also find carpets from Khiva, Samarkand, Bukhara, Afghanistan and Turkey.</do>

Clean, and comfortable. Short walk to Chorsu Bazaar and Metro Station. Rooms approx $20 per person, Dorm $15. Rides from the airport can be arranged for a reasonable price. Unfortunately the owner can be very rude and unfriendly sometimes...

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Clean, and comfortable. Short walk to Chorsu Bazaar and Metro Station. Rooms approx $20 per person, Dorm $15. Rides from the airport can be arranged for a reasonable price. Unfortunately, the owner can sometimes be very rude and unfriendly...

Revision as of 20:06, 31 October 2012

Amir Temur Monument

Tashkent (Uzbek: Toshkent, Тошкент; Russian: Ташкент) is the capital city of Uzbekistan. It is an ancient city on the Great Silk Road from China to Europe. Little remains of the ancient city after the 1966 earthquake and earlier modernisation work following the 1917 revolution. Tashkent is a very Soviet city that has little remaining from its ancient Central Asian past. The city has a mixture of modern new office buildings, hotels, parks and crumbling Soviet style apartment blocks. The streets are generally clean and there are not too many potholes in the city center. Further out, the infrastructure is not so good.

Over the last few years the Uzbek government has embarked on a major reconstruction program in the centre of the city. Roads, government buildings and parks are all being reconstructed (many historical buildings and sites are bulldozed in process). To the visitor, the new city looks very impressive, although many of the local residents have yet to see any improvement in their residential areas.

Tashkent is waiting for a boom. The infrastructure, hotels and shops are there but the influx of people and business has failed to materialise. This is caused in part by a combination of government policy and bad publicity.

Understand

Tashkent has a typical continental climate with hot summers and cold winters. The best seasons for travels to Tashkent are Apr/May and Sep/Oct.

Talk

Although Uzbek is now the official language, Russian is the native language for most Tashkent dwellers, although most also speak Uzbek. Most businesses use Russian in their signs, menus and other printed material. Only government institutions use Uzbek as the first language, and even then, many government forms and reports are in Russian, rather than Uzbek. Currently, Uzbek uses the Latin alphabet rather than the Cyrillic that was used during the Soviet Union. This is a source of some confusion for many Uzbeks, especially those of the older generation. Shortly after the fall of the Soviet Union, and Uzbekistan declared independence in 1991, the written Uzbek language was converted back into Latin characters. Many older Uzbeks have difficulty reading the Latin characters. Uzbek is a Turkic-based language, and while Uzbeks and Turks cannot completely communicate directly, the better educated on both sides can usually find some common understanding.

Many of the signs in Tashkent are in Cyrillic. A significant number of Russian words are similar to their English counterparts. Learning the Cyrillic alphabet — which is not as difficult as one might think — will help a traveller to read signs and in restaurants. It is very useful for the casual visitor to Tashkent to learn a few basic Russian or Uzbek words and phrases. If you need to speak English, young people are your best bet, and even then there is no guarantee that they will speak more than very basic English.

The name Tashkent is usually derived from the Turkish word "tash" (stone) and the Persian word "kent" (city), meaning "city of stones". Another opinion refers to the Sogdian word "tschatsch", meaning "place on a hill".

Tashkent has a population of 2,2 million people (2005).

Get in

By plane

Tashkent International Airport "Yuzhniy" [14] (IATA: TAS; ICAO: UTTT) is just a few kilometers from the city centre. Airlines serving Tashkent include Aeroflot, airBaltic, Asiana, Uzbekistan Airways and Turkish Airlines. It is also the hub of Uzbekistan Airways [15], which flies to many destinations including Almaty, Tokyo, Bangkok, London, and New York-JFK. All the airports in Uzbekistan have immigration posts and Uzbekistan Airways Operates direct flights from Samarkand, Bukhara, Urgench, Andijan, Fergana airports to CIS Countries.

Note that while the domestic and international terminals (terminals 3 and 2) are at the same airport the only way to get from one to the other is by road, a ten minute taxi ride [16] and see notes below about the taxi situation.

Air Baltic[20] offers flights from Riga to Tashkent on Mon and Fri, arriving in Tashkent at 2.40AM.

Czech Airlines[21] offers flights from Prague to Tashkent on Mon and Thu, arriving in Tashkent next morning.

IranAir[22] offers flights from Tehran to Tashkent every F 10AM. One way flight costs USD356 and you can only purchase ticket at their office in 1, Toy-Tepa Str between 9AM to 2PM. Bring exact change as the office doesn't give you any change. Phone: (+998 71) 259 13 74, 250 44 44, 233 81 63

Domestic flights

Uzbekistan Airways, [26] offers flights from Andijan Tue, Thu, Sat and Sun, from Bukhara on Mon, Tue, Thu, Sat and Sun (operated by B757 on Sun), from Fergana on Mon, Tue, Thu and Fri (operated by B757 on Mon), daily flights from Karshi (operated by B757 on Thu), from Namagan on Tue and Sun (operated by B757), daily flights from Navoi, two flights per day from Nukus, flights from Samarkand daily except Fri (operated by B757 on Tue and Sat, by A-310 on Thu and Sun), three daily flights from Termez and two daily flights from Urgench (operated by B757 on Fri afternoon) and flight from Zarafshan on Tue, Wed, Fri and Sun (Summer timetable 2010).

The Uzbekistan Airways Main Ticketing office is located at Amir Timur Str,51. Flight tickets can also be purchased from hundreds of ticketing agents and some even offer free ticket delivery.

A short and inexpensive ($2-3 USD) taxi journey is the easiest way to get to the center. One should bear in mind, however, that upon exiting the international terminal, a large number of men will be crowded at the (sole) exit door offering "taxi" services. For the most part, these are not "official" taxis. "Taxi" drivers will attempt to charge whatever they believe the market will bear. For those without Russian or Uzbek language skills it is best to arrange to have someone meet you at the airport. Fair fares are usually only obtainable by those who understand the system and speak at least some Russian or Uzbek. It is better to walk 50 meters from the exit towards the taxi stand where many taxis are waiting on the road and negotiate. Generally Prevailing fare is minimum 2 to 3 USD for 5km (20 cents per each additional km). Always negotiate. Taxi drivers will rarely accept small bills (dollars, euros or pounds), and cannot be counted upon to give change (in any currency). Baggage reclaim and customs formalities are now pretty efficient but some times can take up to 2 hours.

Before passing through customs, you will need to fill out 2 copies of the Customs Declaration. These forms are often handed out on the flight or can be found on the stands in the baggage reclaim area. The customs officers will keep one copy and stamp the other. You will need this form when you leave the country and may have problem in taking out money without it. Make sure to declare all money and valuables (cameras, PC's etc). You may not be able to leave with more money or valuable items than you arrive with. The Uzbek government have strict rules on entering or leaving with money.

The departures area is on the upper floor. The access road has been closed, so you have to walk around the left hand side of the arrivals level and up some stairs or up the road. Allow plenty of time when leaving the country via Tashkent airport. Check-in, customs and passport control can be very time consuming, especially if there are large numbers of passengers. Make sure and have the customs form you were given when you entered the country.

By train

International

Tashkent is a key stopping point for rail services from Central Asia. It is possible to travel from or to Dushanbe in Tajikistan, Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan, Almaty in Kazakhstan and Moscow. It is possible to travel to China through Almaty and to Iran. Ticket prices are cheap by western standards, but will need to be paid for in cash, preferably in USD. There are many warnings about thefts of personal belongings on the trains.

Train no 6 leaves Moscow on Wed, Fri and Mon at 11.16PM, arriving at Tashkent on Sat, Tue and Thu at 9PM,

Train no 296 leaves Kharkov on Sun at 11.52AM, arriving at Tashkent on Wed at 9.20PM,

Train no 486 leaves Chelyabinsk on Sun at 11.50PM, arriving at Tashkent on Wed at 0.45PM.

Domestic

On Mon, Tue, Fri, Sat and Sun train no 2 leaves Tashkent at 7AM and arrives at Samarkand at 10.50AM, train no 1 leaves Samarkand at 5PM, arriving in Tashkent at 8.50PM. Train no 50 leaves Tashkent every day at 7PM, arriving at Samarkand at 11.55PM, Train no 49 leaves Samarkand daily at 7AM, arriving in Tashkent at 10.55AM next moring,.

Train 662 leaves Tashkent every day at 8PM and arrives at Bukhara at 8AM next morning, train 661 leaves Bukhara every at 6,45PM, arriving in Tashkent at 7AM next morning.#

On Wed and Sat there train 54 leaves Tashkent at 3.40PM, arriving at Urgench at 11.35AM next day, On Tue and Sat train 53 leaves Urgench at 2.05PM, arriving in [[Tashkentv at 9.40AM next morning.

On all even days train 280 leaves Tashkent at 5.25PM, arriving at Termez at 1PM next day, On all even days train 279 leaves Termez at 2,30PM, arriving in Tashkent at 9AM next day.

All trains (both domestic and international) leave now from the Northern Railway Station (Severny Vokzal), Tukestan kochasi, Metro station "Toshkent". Make sure that you buy ticket in advance or arrive 1 hour before train departure as the queue for ticket office is often long and chaotic with people jumping the queue.

By car

There are road routes from surrounding countries but the borders may not be open and there have been security problems. The border from Afghanistan is some times closed or not open to Uzbek nationals. A person has to walk at least 4 Km to Cross the border on Foot from Uzbek Check Post to Afghan Check Post.

The Cherniaevka crossing from Kazakhstan near Saryagash was closed to non-Uzbeks/Kazakhs as of 10 November 2009; foreigners need to cross at Yallama, 100km from Cherniaevka. Allow one or two hours to get through, especially from the Uzbek side. On 6 July 2010 we crossed at Chernaevka, so it seems to be open again for foreigners. Pretty ok, but long long lines, take the left line at the Uzbek customs, they want you to declare any cellphones as communication devices.

From KyrgyzstanDostlik post 30 Km from Andijan is open from 9 to 6PM. From TajikistanOiybek Post 80 KM from Tashkent is open for foreigners from 9 to 6PM. Tursanzade Post 60 KM from Dushanbe Tajikistan is open for foreigners and locals 180 KM from [[Termez. Chorzhu Post on the Border of Turkmenistan 30 KM from Bukhara is also open for foreigners and Locals.

Although there are no international car rental brands in Uzbekistan, you can rent cars with driver from several local companies. Online Tashkent car hire is also available.

By bus

To Travel by bus to Uzbekistan a traveller has to take a bus to the border post. Then cross the border on foot and then take another bus to the final destination. Buses do not operate inter-country regularly. But some private operators run bus services to many CIS cities on announced dates. But it is difficult to get information and some times dates can change without warning
.
Buses to other cities leave from "Avtovokzal" in the Metro station "Sobir Raximov". Buses usually are very full and advance purchase of tickets is recommended. Tickets are sold to foreigners at Movarunahr Kochasi 51, daily from 8AM to 5PM As of 2009, buses to Bokhara (11 hrs) cost 8 USD, to Samarkand (6 hrs) 5 USD and to Urgench/Khiva (20 hrs) 12 USD.

Marshrutka is a small bus or van or a bus which follows a fixed route and stop on demand to take on or drop off passengers. As of 2009, marshrutkas to Andijan (6 hrs) cost 5 USD, to Bokhara (8 hrs) 6 USD, to Ferghana (6 hrs) 4 USD, to Kokand (3 hrs) 3 USD, to Samarkand (4 hrs) 4 USD and to Termez (10 hrs) 8 USD.Inter City Bus time table, Prices, Distances online [27]

Get around

By metro

The city has a good public transport system which is cheap. The metro/underground system is typical of the old Soviet style - with large and impressive stations - and is actually quite modern. There are also modern buses and trams many of which were renewed in 2008. Tickets (which on the metro are small blue coin size tokens) cost 700 soms for any single journey. It is not permitted to take photographs in the metro stations. Police will usually be present on all platforms. Do not risk taking photos "while the policeman is not watching" because they have security cameras everywhere and policeman will approach you instantly and check your documents. In all cases do have documents while you are taking the metro (or anywhere in the city), for you can be checked any time.

By car

Taxis

Taxis can be cheap after some negotiation, however some of the vehicles are very old. While there are official, authorized taxis (with the appropriate sign on the roof of the car), in reality almost any driver in Tashkent can double as a taxi driver. The local custom is to simply stand by the side of the road with your arm extended downward and slightly away from the body. A driver will pull over and then you will state your destination and negotiate the fare in advance. At least some Russian or Uzbek language skills is needed to accomplish this without difficulty. It is usually safe to use this procedure, although virtually every foreign embassy recommends against it. Directions are rarely given here using an address. Most often, a landmark is used, such as "near the hotel Russia,". Moreover, many streets and hotels have been renamed in the past few years but often drivers will not recognize the current name of the street or hotel, still knowing them by their old names. Asking to be taken to the Grand Mir hotel, for instance, will often result in a blank look. Tell the driver you want to go to the Gastinitsa Rossiya (Hotel Russia), however, and they will know exactly where you want to go. For those who speak neither Russian nor Uzbek, it is helpful to have someone draw a rudimentary map or write out directions in Russian. Few drivers will know English.

Do not expect western-style taxi services. Taxi drivers will often smoke while you are in the car and asking them not to will most often result in nothing more than a look of disapproval. You may be paying, but you are in their car. There are many taxi services operating in the city with fixed rates and a person can order the taxi from their hotel room. There are some web sites offering complete lists of taxi services and taxi charges

Taxis within the city can by reserved by calling Taxi Express, tel 1399999 or 16360272.

Car rental

None of the major international car hire companies operate in Tashkent. Where car hire is available, it will include a driver. Generally daily car rental charges are from 25 USD to 35 USD. It all depends upon your negotiating skills. Car rentals are offered by taxi companies. They are expensive but can be more reliable.

See

Abdulkasim Medressah, (in the southern part of the old city). This medressah was erected in honour of the great thinker Abdulkhasim Khan in the beginning of the 19th cent.

Khavendi Takhur Sheikh Mausoleum. The mausoleum was founded in the 14th cent. The present buildings were erected on the old foundations in the 18th and 19th cent. The mausoleum is constructed with light yellow bricks and has no decoration in the interior.

Kaldyrgach-bly Mausoleum. This mausoleum is the most ancient monument in Tashkent. The dome in the form of a pyramid dates from the 15th cent. and is said to remind the mazars in the Kazakh steppes. The mausoleums contains the tomb of a famous Kazakh political, Tole-bly, who had the nickname Kaldyrgach ("swallow").

Yunus Khan Mausoleum. The mausoleum is one of the few monuments in Tashkent dating to the epoch of the Timurids. Yunus Khan (1415-1487) was a descendant of Gengiz Khan and grandfather of the Indian moghul Babur. The building was erected in the 15th cent. and restored several times. It has no decoration except 'panjara' on the main facade.

Mausoleum of Abubakr Muhammad Kaffal Shashi. It is the mausoleum of one of the first Imams who died in 976/977. The present mausoleum is rectangular in shape and is crowned by a conical dome. The frieze with inscriptions over the entrance and the panjara (wooden lattices) in the window openings are especially remarkable.

Mausoleum of Zainuddin-bobo Sheikh. This is the mausoleum of the son of the founder of a famous Sufi order. His father sent him to disseminate the ideas of this order. The mausoleum is of the khanaka type. The hall is covered with a double dome. Nearby is a chillyakhona (subterranean monastic cell) dating to the 12th and 13th cent.

Old Town

The Old Town has retained much of its old charm. Here you will find low adobe houses with shady courtyards, narrow winding streets and many ancient mosques and madressas.

Chorsu Bazaar (Tashkent's farmers market under a huge cupola, spices, grain, dairy products, fruits of the season), (Southern edge of the old town). Here you can encounter the hustle and bustle of everyday life in Central Asia and you will have a good chance to see people in the colourful local dress.

Kukeldash Medressa, Nawai Prospect (on a hill overlooking Chorsu Bazaar, near the Friday Mosque). This Quran school was built in the 16th century during the reign of Abdulla-Khan by the vizier, scientist and poet Kulbobo Kukeldash, Kukeldash means "the Khan's foster brother'. Kukeldash Medressa is one of the largest and best preserved Quran schools in Central Asia. The Medressa has a traditional composition with a large inner yard with hujras (pupils' cells) and darshakona and mosque in the corners.uzs 2000.

Ensemble Khazret Imam, (2 km north of the Circus on Zarquanyar). tomb of one of the first Imams of Tashkent, Visitors may wish to visit the mosque in the Hast Imam area of the city. The library there contains the remaining fragments of the world's first Koran, written only 19 years after the death of Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH).

Tellya Sheikh Mosque. with a beautiful Islamic library with ancient ceilings and ancient manuscripts and the Osman Koran. It is considered the oldest Koran in the world and is said to have been stained with the blood of Hazrat Osman in 655.

Architectural Complex Zengi-Ata, (in the Zengi-Ata settlement near Tashkent). burial place of sheikh Aj-Hodzha, nicknamed Zengi-Ata, which means "black", living from the end of 12th to first half of 13th century.

Barrak-Khan Madrassah, (to the east of Chorsu market, among the clay-walled buildings of the old city). The Medrassah was completed in the 2nd half of the 16th cent. Barak Khan died in 1556 and is buried in Samarkand.

Museums

History Museum of the People of Usbekistan (artefacts from Zoroastrian and Buddhist times, exhibits relating to the conquest of the khanates of Central asia by the Russians and to the first president of the independent Uzbek Republi, Islam Karimov), Sharaf Rashidova 30, ☎2391779. Tu-Su 10AM until 5PM, closed Mon. Uzbek citizens pay 1500 som, foreign guests pay 6000 (Oct 2012)1500-6000 som.

Museum of Applied Arts (in a house built by a Russian diplomat in the 19th cent., with carved and painted plaster and carved wood, overview of old architectural details from Bokhara and Samarkand, ceramics and textiles, gift shop), Rakatboshi 15, ☎2533943. daily 9AM until 6PM. 1200 Som.

Tashkent Galley of Modern Art, (Not far from Amir Temur square and Westminster University). It is a nice modern gallery. Now (2008 June) there are some UN posters, some pictures and very nice exhibition of young artists. For students the admission is 500 som. Does not appear on any tourist maps or guides. No Address given. Not found on any internet searches; possibly confused with Art Gallery of Uzbekistan. Likely does not exist.

Theatres

Alisher Navoi Opera and Ballet Theater (classical ballet and opera), Ataturk Kochasi 28, ☎2339081. ticket counter besides the main entrance open on performance days from 10AM until 7PM, performanced M-F 6PM, Sat and Su 5PM. The theatre was builit on the plans of Alexey Shchusev, the architect of Lenin's Mausoleum in Moscow in neoclassical style. The theater has special significance for Japanese nationals because it was built by the Japanese prisoners of war during the second world war. A plate acknowledging their contributions is part of the building.1500S.

Others

Tashkentland, (Near Aqua park, not far from Tashkent TV tower). An amusement park. It has few nice rides, nothing special if you have been in big park, but a nice place to spend a free afternoon with friends. It is also worth a visit to a simple park in Tashkent - although they have less attractions and less exciting, but they give a more authentic feeling. 7000 soms.

War memorial

Monument of Courage is on Sharof Rashidov Street, 300 Meters from the Independence Square. The monument was built to acknowledge the courage of the people at the time of the Tashkent earth Quake on 26th April 1966. The whole city was reduced to rubble and then modern Tashkent was built.

' Amir Temur Monument and museum' in the Amir Timur park. The park has been recently renovated and looks very nice. The Amir Temur Monument is in the center of Tashkent. Amir Temur, in an armour, is sitting on his horse, holding the reins of his horse with his left hand and greeting the people with his right hand.

Japanese Garden behind the Intercontinental Hotel is popular during summers. Many couples go there for wedding photos.

Boghi Eram Recreation Park. Fun fair for the young and not so young.

central market 'Oloy Bozori' (known by most locals as the 'Alayskee Bazaar', Amir Timur Street has beautifully laid out displays of local produce, dried fruit and nuts. Every Friday and Saturday there is a whole sale Dry Fruits Bazaar.

War memorial eternal flame and park has the names of all the fallen Victims of 2nd world war. Sharof Rashidov Avenue (City center).

Tashkent TV Tower Viewing levels and restaurants with views of the city [29]. The TV Tower, built in 1981 is the highest building in Central Asia. It is 375 m high. It is the 10th highest building in the world and the 2nd highest buildings in GIS and has a revolving restaurant 110 meters above the ground.

Brothers Tombs is another monument popular tourist attraction and on 9th May (Victory day) thousands of people visit the place to pay homage to the victims of 2nd world War. Statute of War Heroes are on the southern wall of the monument. A statute of famous Uzbek General Sobir Rokhim is also there.

Mustaqilik (Independence Square) is the political center of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Government buildings and the Senate are located here.

Independence Monument was erected 1991 as a symbol of the sovereignity of the country. It shows a golden globe and the outlines of Uzbekistan.

Do

Aqua Park, Amir Temur road, near TV Tower. The water park has several pools, one with a wave machine, water chutes and high slides. Well worth a few hours in the hot weather. Take your own towel and pool footwear (the paths can get very hot). There is a restaurant and bars inside.Adult 7000 Sum, Child 4000 Sum for 3 hours.

Work

A typical monthly wage rate in Tashkent is different among different people. Usually state office workers get around US$200-300 a month. Private firm workers usually get higher salaries. It is possible to live cheaply if you do not visit any restaurants or other attractions. Most people rely on support from their family and friends.

Buy

Market

Farmers Markets and Bazaars

Local produce, such as fruit, nuts, vegetables can be very good, especially when they are in season. In the late summer, local melons appear on the streets and in the bazaars and are tasty and very cheap.

Most local residents do their primary shopping in bazaars. There are many of them in Tashkent, the largest of which is the Chorsu Bazaar. It is huge, colorful, teeming with people and offers just about anything that can be purchased locally, from produce to locally-made furniture and hardware. Hand-crafted items, including crockery, rugs, traditional dress, etc., are also available and far less expensive than in the shops frequented by tourists. Have a local go with you to the bazaars if possible. Foreigners are inevitably charged higher prices. Bargaining is common, but requires some language skills.

Bazaars

Alayskiy Bazaar. Alayskiy Bazaar is the least noisy and crowded bazaar in Tashkent. Only here can you can buy button and oyster mushrooms, Caspian sturgeon and Far Eastern salmon.

Chorsu (Eski Juva) Bazaar, (in the very heart of the Old Town, next to Chorsu square.). The most exiting oriental market in Tashkent. Eski Juva bazaar is the biggest and oldest bazaar in Central Asia, operating on the same spot for over two thousand years. The market was reconstructed in the 1980s. The stalls of the bazaar stand under seven huge domes covered with colored glazed tiles. In the biggest domed building you will find all kinds of spices and cooking herbs: saffron and brown tree bark, red and black pepper, thyme and cloves, nutmeg, cardamom, as well as raisins and dried apricots, almonds and pistachios, walnuts and peanuts. The bazaar is famous for peanuts boiled in sugar or honey, covered with sesame seeds. Under the small domes are the workshops. Here the craftsmen make and sell jewelry, painted cradles (beshik); gold embroidery; Uzbek chests with metal decorations; embroidered suzanes (thin tapestries) and jiyak (lace for trimming the lower edges of women's trousers); quilted men's (chapan) and women's (yashmak) caftans; kurpacha quilts and pichok knives in leather or brass sheaths and national musical instruments. Potters offer lyagan dishes and kosa bowls with blue and turquoise painted patterns. You will also find carpets from Khiva, Samarkand, Bukhara, Afghanistan and Turkey.

Farkhatsky bazaar, (selling only melons, especially in September and October).

Hippodrome bazaar, (best for (leather)clothes, shoes, very crowded). every day except Mon.

"Broadway"

Saligokh Street, known locally as 'Broadway', has some street artists, etc. The street is easy to find from the Amir Temur monument, just head away from the Uzbekistan Hotel. The 'mirstore' just off of Saligokh Street has a modern supermarket, coffee bar and hugely overpriced fashion stores. This area, known locally as "Demir," also has MirBurger, which has burgers, pizza and local dishes at reasonable prices. There is also a Georgian restaurant ("Tblisi") and a Chinese restaurant. There is a heavy police (militsiya) presence here and foreigners are not often, but occasionally asked for their documents. It is advisable to keep a photocopy of your passport and visa with you, but leave the originals in the hotel safe.

From the start of September 2006, all of the outdoor shops, private sellers and restaurants have been cleared from Saligokh Street and other city parks, probably because they are unlicensed. This has largely killed the atmosphere of the Broadway area and in many of the parks. As of August 2007, a few of the painting sellers have returned, but are confined to a small area.

Recently, modern designer fashion and shops selling luxury goods from famous international brands have started to appear in Tashkent. Catering for the wealthy, these can be found in the Broadway area, Amir Temur street and Pushkin street.

Handicrafts

Human House, Usmon Nosir 30/9 (not far from the Grand Mir hotel), ☎+99871-255-44-11 ([email protected]), [2]. M-Sa 10AM until 7PM. It features hand made crafts and clothing of all sorts, ranging from full outfits to purses to beautiful hand-painted tea sets and ceramics at very reasonable prices. It is non-profit and is meant to help provide income to the craftspersons, who are often from remote and very poor villages.

Eat

Uzbek national dishes are similar to those of other Central Asian countries.

The national dish is Plov (also called Osh,Plaf, "Pulau" in Urdu). It is a mixture of rice, mild spices, yellow or orange carrots, mutton, meat, cumin (zeera) and, according to individualized recipes, occasionally other ingredients.

Samsa ("Samosa" in Hindi or Urdu) are similar to South American empanadas - meat (beef or mutton) and onion encased in pastry and baked in wood-fired, clay ovens shaped like inverted beehives called tandories.

The local bread, round and flat, is also baked in tandories. It is called Non (or in Russian, "lepioshki,", "Naan" in Urdu) and is usually delicious. Nan from Samarkand is especially well regarded by many in Samarkand but each region takes pride in its own version of non just as it does its version of Osh.

Though the King of Uzbek food is Plov but Uzbeks feel very proud to make Sumalyak. To every body Sumalyak is a miracle sweet dish. It is made from Pure wheat and with out any addition of sweetener. The art is such that Sumalyak becomes sweet and Uzbeks take it on very special occasions. A visitor if visting Uzbekistan with a family must make it a point to see the process of making Sumalyak. Readers can find all the information in detail about making sumalyak and other Uzbek Cuisines from link [30]
There are hundreds of small cafes in Tashkent (and other Uzbek cities and villages) offering these and other local dishes at very inexpensive prices. A meal of salad, bread, tea, soup and shashlik at around 2-3 USD isn't difficult to find. Bear in mind that sanitation standards leave a lot to be desired in many of these cafes. Especially on warm days, look to see if the meat is kept refrigerated before it is cooked.

Budget

There are many small restaurants serving simple meals at good prices. Burgers and kebabs are common. Borsch (soup) is tasty and perfect on a cold day. Drujba Burgers (a local chain) are every where. Kazan Kabob near Yoshlik Metro, Near Beruni Metro on Sufiski, on Novoi Street is very Popular amongst the local population. In Kulug there are cafes which cook good quality Korean Food, In Badamzar Area Local Home cooked Uzbek Food is Popular, Lavash (Armenian) and Shaurma (Arabic) can be taken from many Kiosks in Town for a Price of 1.5 to 2 USD with a Bottle of Cola.

Milli Plov, Plaf is near TV Tower is the most Popular Place. Thousands of People eat. Bukhara Food is at the Corner of Shahristan Street, Near Museum of Repression and offer cheap Good quality food. Try the Following Dishes, Lavash (Armenian), Shurpa (Uzbek), Kazi Kabob (Uzbek)

Bravissimo at junction of Shahrisabz Street and Movarounnakhr Street serves cakes and good local food. Russian language only.

Neft i Gaz kitchen, it is a canteen of a company, but many people from around go there, as it is cheap and tasty. It serves most traditional dishes - plov, lagman (a soup with spagetti, meat and other ingredients), borsh. Languages russian and uzbek, but it is easy to order, as it is canteen type and you can just show what you want. Lunch shouldn't cost more than 2000 sums. It is not far from Amir Temur boulevard and Westminster University. If you ask around people will know it and can show you more specifically as it is in the backyard and not so easy to find. Note: It works only from 12-16PM

Cafe Bukhara, close to the railway station (Avliyoota st. and little ring road intersection) - cheap and tasty local food, nice atmosphere and you can buy own drinks in a shop next to the place.

La Riva. Fast food plus huge variety of different International dishes from Russia, Korea, Italy, Tatarstan and etc. Many college students drop in throughout the day and the evening. Right next to Salvador Dali night club

Khan Kuk Kwan. South Korean Cuisine.

Mir Burger. So called Turkish McDonald's. Located on Tashkent Broadway.

Splurge

Drink

As is common in other Central Asian countries, tea is drunk by most people, but without milk. Black coffee is also available everywhere. Some coffee shops and cafes offer good coffee, but the best of them is probably Amore Coffee at the MIR store just off of Broadway.

Alcoholic drinks are readily available. Outdoor bars are popular in good weather. Uzbek wine, vodka and many different beers are available. The Russian beer "Baltika" is popular. Baltika 3 is good and similar to other international beers. Baltika 0 has no alcohol, Baltika 5 and 7 are also good, and Baltika 9 is very strong. A new local beer, Sarbast, has been launched and should be about half the price of imported beers. It is quite good and at 4.2% (red label), not too strong. Sarbast is also available with a blue label at 5.6%.

Nightclubs, as everywhere offer expensive drinks and typically play a mix of Russian and Western music. Strip shows are common.

Rich night club is part of Dedeman hotel.

Club Diplomat S, Navoy Street. 200m from Dedeman hotel. Has billiard tables. Entrance 3000 Sum (free for ladies). It can be very busy and getting in may be difficult if your face does not fit.

Studio Cafe, S.Azimova Street. Very modern cafe/bar with good food and drink.

Fashion Bar, 25 Kunaev Street. At the junction with Shahrisabz Street. Another modern bar/cafe, showing Fashion TV on large screens with music until late at night.

Diamond Club nightclub, below Arkada center on the Broadway. New and modern nightclub with a sci-fi theme. Check out the 'Predator' look-alikes.

The Chelsea Arms in Kakhara Street is a 'traditional' themed English pub. It looks like it has been transplanted from the East End of London. It also offers Wifi! Tashkent also has at least two Irish-themed bars - the new Irish Pub and Patrick's Irish pub, Akhunbabaev street.

Sleep

Tashkent Intercontinental Hotel

Tashkent has many good hotels offering good standards and Value for money, most of them are empty during off season (Dec-Feb). Dedeman Hotel offers good service standards and is popular amongst international visitors. The image of the Intercontinental Hotel (right) is typical of the new buildings in Tashkent. Intercontinental hotel offers standards of a genuine 5 star hotel.
Asia Tashkent Hotel is a newly constructed hotel located on Usman Nosir Street. It has an indoor swimming pool, sauna, Turkish bath, 72 rooms, night club, and is popular amongst European customers Tel 2509687, 2509688.
Tashkent Palace Hotel located on Buyuk Turon Street offers good value for money.

Budget

Clean, and comfortable. Short walk to Chorsu Bazaar and Metro Station. Rooms approx $20 per person, Dorm $15. Rides from the airport can be arranged for a reasonable price. Unfortunately, the owner can sometimes be very rude and unfriendly...

Tashkent Apartment , address: Damariq 9 - a house with three separate bedrooms, owned by PageTour travel agency. Not far from Nukus st. and Glinka st. intersection. Owners are very nice and helpful, no problem to arrange pickup from airport, book train tickets or help to change money on the market. Only downside that they do not provide registration slips for your staying [Aug 2012] {GPS N 41.17.02.2 , E 069.15.44.1} [32]

Mid-range

Malika Hotel [33], tel: +998 71 1730203. Probably the best bang-for-the-buck in Tashkent. Well-equipped and nicely outfitted. Ownership includes an American partner. Room rates from 30-45 USD including breakfast. Internet is non-existant in rooms, and marginally so in their lobby (email, ect. but no skype capability) Also in Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva.

Dedeman Silk Road Hotel [37], Amir Temur St,Tel: +998 71 23401, fax: 234242 Excellent and new hotel in the city centre. Drinks are overpriced though, with free Internet connection in rooms. Rack rates from $160/night but booking through an agent will get a double for $105 with breakfast. The deluxe double rooms are best and will cost $130 with breakfast.

Markaziy Hotel, Amir Temur St,Tel: +998 71 2383000. Markaziy Hotel was opened in 1999 by Sheraton and was run by them until a few years ago, when they left having lost money after some alleged financial irregularities. The hotel is one of Tashkent's taller buildings. The rooms are still very good, but service and maintenance are not quite up to Sheraton standards. Standard Single room 85$. President 1000$. Bar/restaurant bills must be paid in cash.

Contact

Telephone number change

During November 2007 the Tashkent telephone number plan has been changed. The changes are complex. Some numbers that began with the number one have been changed to begin with two. Golden Pages has a list of the changes [38].

Dental clinics

Stay safe

Tashkent is generally a very safe place to visit. However, visitors should refrain from political activities or doing anything that could be regarded as undermining the state. As anywhere, remember to watch your personal belongings.

There have been incidents of robbery, including some violent assaults but they are very rare. Travellers should use the same caution they would use in any large city, especially at night. It is not advisable for foreigners to walk around alone at night, especially in areas where few people are about and/or lighting is poor.

Avoid confrontations of any kind. If you witness a confrontation, especially in a crowded area such as a bazaar, move away.

Concerning food: in hot summer days try to avoid dairy products, mushrooms or any products that might be damaged by heat. You might want to avoid fish unless you are sure it has been well stored.

Cope

The local currency is the Uzbek Sum. There are bank notes of 10, 25, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000 som.

Always exchange money at official exchange offices - there are many of them. It is illegal to change currency on the black market, although the exchange rate can be up to 30% higher than in banks. If you do decide to exchange on the black market (only US$ or Euros), around Chorsu bazaar is the place. Some hotels will exchange money on the side at the better rate. US dollars can fetch a good rate but other acceptable currencies are Euros, British pounds, Russian rubles or Japanese Yen. Notes must be in perfect condition with no marks or damage. As of 2012, the official exchange rate is about 1900SUM to US$1 while the black market rate is about 2700sum to US$1. Few ATM's (known as Bankomat) work with foreign cards. US dollars are available inside banks using international credit cards with commission of about 2%. The dollars can then be changed to local currency. Newer shops and hotels are accepting credit cards and Maestro.

Turkmenistan, 16, Tarobiy Str., ☎1205278, 1205279 (fax: 1205281). The consulate is on the back, need to arrive really early, from 6am people start to gather and write your name (bring a pen) to the list by the guards place and then wait. At around 10am somebody will come, shout the names on the 1st list to check if the people are still present and copy them to a 2nd list, which is the official one and after that according with that list you can enter the consulate by turns. For transit visa it takes around 20 days with no express service, no need to leave the passport, payment on pick-up, $55 for three day transit visa. [Aug 2012] {GPS N 41.18.06.9 , E 069.16.12.9}

United States, 3 Moyqorghon Street, 5th Block, Yunusobod District, 100093, ☎+998(71) 120 5450, [13]. 09:00-18:00 M-F; US citizen services: M-F 10:00-12:00 (except Fri) & 14:00-16:00. For after-hours emergencies, American citizens should call +998(71) 120 5450. Embassy includes an Information Resource Center with a small library, English-language magazines, free internet access, and access to several large electronic databases of information. Staff can also help Uzbeks wanting to practice speaking English and answer questions about the US and US-Uzbek relations.

Get out

By plane

International flights

Uzbekistan Airways, [39] offers daily flights to Amritsar from F-Su, to Athens on Tuesday, to Bangkok and Delhi on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, return flights on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday), to Birmingham on Monday (operated by B757), to Dacca from M-Th, to Kuala Lumpur from M-W, to London on Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, to New York on Friday and Sunday, to Paris on Tuesday and Friday, to Beijing on Wednesday and Sunday, to Rome on Monday and Thursday, to Seoul from M-W, to Istanbul from M-Th, to Tel Aviv on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, to Frankfurt on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and to Sharjah on Thursday and Sunday.